Carnival Destiny says to Aruba … Hasta la Vista, Baby … Aruba tourism Take another Hit

Its a black letter day, or should we say black T-shirt day in Aruba. More disastrous economic news for Aruba … Carnival Destiny moors for the last time in Aruba. We are sure that will add to a prosperous 2007. All do not seem happy on “One Happy Island”.

Businessman René Zaandam organized a ‘mourning day’ as symbolic protest and called on everybody in the tourist sector to wear a black T-shirt today. Did the t-shirts look like this?

 A symbolic action, he admits.  “By introducing the bbo, this government made it clear that protesting means nothing.  They still do what they want and are not concerned about the tourism receiving a blow.  This is high season and yet there are days with no cruise ships in the harbour.” 

(Hat Tip Klaas: Commemorative “Destiny” Black Monkey T-shirt)

Aruba looses an important source of income with the leaving of this big cruise ship.  He is of the opinion that Tourism-minister, Edison Briesen  (MEP) has dropped a big clanger by not doing anything to keep the Carnival Destiny for Aruba.  “He knew already, since August of 2005, that the shipping company that owns this cruise ship was planning to stop calling in at the port of Aruba.  He pretended in March of 2006 that he knew nothing and in June he said that he would do something.  It didn’t help.” (Amigoe) 

So what will the losses represent to Aruba? But the loss of $200,000 will be spun as some how being a great advantage to Aruba. This must be part of  PM Nelson Oduber’s continues productive 2006.

Zaandam calculates the revenue that Aruba misses out on.  “Cruise passengers on ships of the caliber of Carnival Destiny spend an average of one-hundred dollars when they are in Aruba.  This cruise ship accommodates an average of 2000 passengers, which means a source of income of about 200.000 dollars per week years after years.”

The reason being that Carnival will no linger go to Aruba is gas prices, really? That’s funny last time we checked the price of oil was below $55 a barrel.  Aruba will spin the loss of the cruise ship Destiny as a net gain of three new ships that will port in Aruba. What they will not tell people is the fact that size matters, not the number of ships. Nor will they discuss the fact that not all cruise ship passengers are created equal, ie have the same spending habits. Look on the bright side Aruba, you still have white bread. At least for the time being.

Aruba Ports Authority (APA) announced last year November that three new cruise ships will call in at Aruba in 2007.  On Amigoe’s question whether these three ships will fill the gap left behind by Carnival Destiny, Zaandam reacted that it’s not the number of ships that is important, but the number of passengers and the amount of money they spend in Aruba.  “The new cruise ships have Aruba as pick-up point.  Thus their passengers fly to Aruba, arrive late in the afternoon, and leave port in the evening.  “These passengers won’t spend money on excursions in Aruba, because they do not want to miss their flight.  Besides the passenger on these cruises won’t have that much money to spend like the ones on Carnival Destiny.” 

Read the full story, Amigoe: January 5, 2007 Carnival Destiny says goodbye to Aruba 

ORANJESTAD – Cruise ship Carnival Destiny moored for the last time in the harbour of Aruba.  Businessman René Zaandam regrets the leaving of the cruise ship and organized a ‘mourning day’ as symbolic protest.   He called on everybody in the tourist sector to wear a black T-shirt today. 

“It’s a very sad day for the economy”, said Zaandam.  In his point of view, Aruba looses an important source of income with the leaving of this big cruise ship.  He is of the opinion that Tourism-minister, Edison Briesen (MEP) has dropped a big clanger by not doing anything to keep the Carnival Destiny for Aruba.  “He knew already, since August of 2005, that the shipping company that owns this cruise ship was planning to stop calling in at the port of Aruba.  He pretended in March of 2006 that he knew nothing and in June he said that he would do something.  It didn’t help.”  

Zaandam calculates the revenue that Aruba misses out on.  “Cruise passengers on ships of the caliber of Carnival Destiny spend an average of one-hundred dollars when they are in Aruba.  This cruise ship accommodates an average of 2000 passengers, which means a source of income of about 200.000 dollars per week years after years.”

According to Zaandam, the cruise ship company indicated that they can no longer call in at Aruba, due to the high fuel prices.  It’s such a pity that the minister had done nothing to eliminate this argument.  “Look at the recent development with Valero, for whom the government had fixed an exception so they can pay less bbo.  Wasn’t that also possible with Carnival Destiny?  The minister could have stipulated that big cruise ships with at least 2000 passengers that call in at Aruba every week, would have the advantage of lower fuel price.”  This way, the minister could have procured that big ships with passengers that spend money, continue to call in at Aruba. 

Aruba Ports Authority (APA) announced last year November that three new cruise ships will call in at Aruba in 2007.  On Amigoe’s question whether these three ships will fill the gap left behind by Carnival Destiny, Zaandam reacted that it’s not the number of ships that is important, but the number of passengers and the amount of money they spend in Aruba.  “The new cruise ships have Aruba as pick-up point.  Thus their passengers fly to Aruba, arrive late in the afternoon, and leave port in the evening.  “These passengers won’t spend money on excursions in Aruba, because they do not want to miss their flight.  Besides the passenger on these cruises won’t have that much money to spend like the ones on Carnival Destiny.” 

Zaandam stood in the harbour of Oranjestad, dressed in a black T-shirt.  He had called on tour operators, bus drivers, taxi drivers, sales persons and owners of souvenir stores, members of shopkeepers’ association Mambo, and everybody that works in the tourist sector of Aruba to mourn the leaving of Carnival Destiny.

A symbolic action, he admits.  “By introducing the bbo, this government made it clear that protesting means nothing.  They still do what they want and are not concerned about the tourism receiving a blow.  This is high season and yet there are days with no cruise ships in the harbour.”